Anti-Obesity Drugs - Can a Prescription Pill Help You Lose Weight?

Anti-obesity drugs are considered some of the best aids for overweight or obese people to help them reduce or control weight. The drug market is full of anti-obesity drugs - some are available over-the-counter and some are prescription-only drugs. Both these types help to control the growing levels of obesity among people.

Generally speaking, the best way to lose extra weight is through a healthy diet and regular exercise. For most people who are very overweight or obese however, these methods may prove inadequate. So they need to combine these methods with any suitable anti-obesity drug, which should be prescribed any medical doctor.

There are some effective prescription drugs for the treatment of obesity, available on the market. The most notable among these are Xenical and Reductil. Both these drugs are taken orally and available only on a valid prescription of a doctor. Let's discuss below Xenical, which works in an entirely different manner to that of Reductil, which is an appetite suppressant.

How Xenical works?

Xenical is an oral drug that is prescribed to patients who are overweight (with BMI value 27 or more) or obese (with BMI value 30 or more) with additional health risks such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood lipid profile.

Xenical belongs to a group of medicines known as lipase inhibitors and its main active ingredient is orlistat. It works in the digestive system of the body by preventing some of the dietary fats from getting absorbed. These indigestive fats are generally passed out of the body through normal bowel movements.

Lipases are enzymes that play an important role in the digestion of food in our body. These enzymes break down the large molecules of dietary fats into small molecules, making them fit for absorption in the body. Now, when you take a Xenical dosage along with meal, it starts interfering with the working of lipases and prevents about 30% of dietary fats from breaking down into small digestible molecules. These undigested fats don't provide any source of energy, so are passed out of the body through normal bowel movements. In this way, you can stop the accumulation of excess fats in the body and minimise your weight gain.

Although an effective weight loss drug, Xenical may not be suitable for everyone who struggles to lose extra weight. Xenical is a prescription drug, so it should be taken only if the doctor approves it for you. Before taking Xenical, you should ensure that:

  • You are not allergic to orlistat or other ingredients of Xenical
  • You don't have any pancreatic problems
  • The pack of Xenical you buy is not torn of tampered
  • You are above 18 years of age

Are there any side effects of Xenical?

Since Xenical is a prescribed drug, so it may have some undesirable side effects among users like every prescription drug has. The most common side effects of Xenical are increased flatulence (gas) with or without discharge, abdominal pain, oily or fatty stools, and oily discharge from anus. These side effects may continue for few weeks after starting the Xenical treatment.

Xenical is also related to some uncommon side effects such as nausea, dyspepsia or indigestion, headache, and extreme tiredness. If you feel major discomfort after taking Xenical dosages, then you should consult a medical doctor for help.

In majority of cases, Xenical proves a suitable option for obesity treatment. It's a proven anti-obesity drug that has helped treat many people who struggled to lose weight in the UK ever since its approval in 2001.


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